Have you ever wondered why children get sick so often and adults don’t? Simple answer: children are born with little or no immunity against disease. Immunity is the body’s ability to defend itself against disease-causing germs, such as bacteria and viruses.

Immunity develops when a child is exposed to the germs around us in people who are sick or contract a disease. Each disease produces immunity only against the particular germ or family of germs that caused the disease. So, immunity develops, one disease at a time during childhood. It takes an entire childhood to develop immunity against most common diseases in a community. But by the time you reach adulthood, you have protection against most diseases, and adults don’t get sick as often as children.

What we have to understand, as parents, is that diseases in children are unavoidable and, although worrisome, are actually helpful in providing immunity to the child. In many cases, the diseases are less severe in a child than in an adult. So my philosophy is that diseases should be accepted with a certain equanimity.

When is it worth going to the pediatrician for an illness?

Doctors differ to some extent on this. Follow your own doctor’s advice. The rules I have followed with my own patients are listed below:

Fever without obvious symptoms — it’s probably safer for your doctor to examine your child, rather than wait.

Fever with one of the following danger signs — consult your doctor for sure:

• Sore throat: Your pediatrician will want to examine your child and give him a strep test. Streptococcus can cause rheumatic fever, a disease of the heart and joints, if it is not diagnosed and treated.
• Rash: Could indicate a more serious illness, especially if your child has a fever and is down.
• Stiff neck when the neck is bent forward: This could indicate meningitis (a serious infection of the cerebrospinal fluid).
• Lethargy (fall) that seems worrisome or of unexpected duration.

With or without feverI suggest a visit to your pediatrician for any of the following:

• Croup – a hoarse, hoarse, hoarse, barking cough indicating laryngitis in a child. Croup usually increases at night, so call your doctor early if possible.
• Difficulty breathing, especially if the problem is accompanied by tightness under or between the ribs, noisy breathing in the throat or chest, or bluish discoloration (cyanosis) of the lips or skin.
• Illnesses in children younger than 3 months may progress faster and show fewer signs than in an older child. Therefore, any illness in a baby under three months, including a cold without fever, should be brought to the attention of your pediatrician without delay.
• Ear pain: should never be ignored. An untreated ear infection can lead to permanent hearing loss.
• Pus in the eyes: Often indicates an underlying treatable condition that could spread to the ears or other parts of the body.
• Stomach pain can be caused by problems that aren’t too serious (an intestinal virus or even constipation), but abdominal pain can also mean a more serious illness, such as intestinal obstruction or appendicitis. So check with your pediatrician about this.

The writings and views of Dr. Feinberg are his own and do not necessarily represent the views of other physicians or of the facilities with which he is or has been associated. Parents should always consult their own physician for medical advice and treatment. Copyright Sheldon N. Feinberg MD FAAP.